Brookes confirms move to WSBK with Milwaukee BMW

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2015 BRITISH Superbike Champion Josh Brookes will be making the move up to World Superbikes for 2016 on-board Milwaukee BMW machinery.

The Australian is to remain with the Milwaukee team for next season in World Superbikes alongside former MotoGP rider Karel Abraham, however instead of Yamaha machines, Brookes and Abraham will be on BMW machinery.

Brookes dominated BSB in 2015 and the SMR team hope to continue that domination in the World Superbike Championship on a factory-support BMW S1000RR.

A team press release stated: 'BMW Motorrad Motorsport will provide support and technical know-how and its experts will work alongside the team throughout the whole season, along with engines and electronics.

&lsquo;The team will be responsible for the development of the bike during the season and manage the sporting and logistical aspects of its participation in the series.&rsquo;

Brookes will return to the WorldSBK paddock as the 2015 British Superbike Champion after racing in the 2004 and 2008 Supersport World Championship where he won two races and scored a total of seven podium finishes. The 32-year-old also raced in selected rounds of the World Superbike class between 2006 and 2012.

'I&rsquo;m excited to be back in WorldSBK and to go there with the same team I won the BSB title with is perfect,' Brookes said. 'I haven&rsquo;t raced a BMW before, but the bike and factory are proven and I am certain it will be competitive.

'Having the support of BMW Motorrad Motorsport is crucial to our efforts and having their experts on-site with us will be a big help. We will test early in January before heading to Phillip Island and I am looking forward to riding in front of my home fans.'

Abraham, Brookes' new team-mate, has raced in the MotoGP World Championship since 2011. Before this, he competed in the Moto2 World Championship in which he became a Grand Prix winner in Valencia.

He now joins Milwaukee BMW, run by the renowned Shaun Muir Racing outfit and backed by Milwaukee Power Tools, with the two parties having just extended their title sponsorship deal by three years.

Team Owner Shaun Muir commented: 'As a team, the support and enthusiasm shown by BMW Motorrad Motorsport was hugely confidence-building.

'They know exactly what we need to be competitive and the level of backing has made our decision to join them much easier. I am incredibly impressed with the amount of technical support we will have and it bodes well for a great debut season in WorldSBK.'